A MULTI-million pound road and bridge linking one of the region’s key regeneration sites is open for business.

The Middlehaven Dock Bridge will be known as Priestman Road and Priestman Road Bridge to honour a 1910-built dredger, which was the first vessel built at South Bank by Smith’s Dock Company.

The £10 million project – funded through a £6.1m capital investment from Middlesbrough Council plus a £3.9m grant secured by Tees Valley Combined Authority from the Local Growth Fund initiative – paves the way for work to start on the proposed £30 million snow centre.

Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd welcomed guests including Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, to the Hudson Quay site for the official unveiling ceremony.

He said: “The new bridge and relief road are major milestones in the transformation of Middlehaven, and will further unlock the area’s huge potential, as the established city heart of the Tees Valley.

“They are potent symbols of the ambition we have for Middlesbrough, and add further momentum to the regeneration that is taking place across the borough.”

Mr McDonald, who carried out the official ribbon cutting duty, said: “It will provide crucial infrastructure for the developments at Middlehaven, such as the Snow Centre, and help ease congestion for local commuters by providing another link to the A66.

“Middlesbrough Council’s plans for regenerating Middlesbrough are expansive and ambitious and the Dock Bridge will ensure that they can deliver on the huge potential for sites in Middlehaven.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It may only be a bridge, but this is the final piece of the jigsaw to fully regenerate the Middlehaven area and it’s great to see it now being delivered.”

Main contractor Balfour Beatty installed the 95-tonne steel bridge.